Melville's Fox FM Prairie Fire girls hockey team is on a roll.
After ending up on the short end of its first two exhibition games earlier this month, the Saskatchewan Female Midget AA Hockey League team has rattled off three straight wins, including two at home.
In a recent three-team mini-tournament, the Prairie Fire scored two goals in the final minute of the third period to cruise to 5-2 win over Manitoba-based Westman Wildcats, after recording a 4-1 win over Weyburn Southern Range Gold Wings the previous day.
The two wins follow a 2-1 decision over hometown Regina Rebels.
Second-year player Laurel McLean proved to be the big gun for the Prairie Fire in the set-to against the Wildcats, potting three goals. The Prairie Fire opened the scoring mid-way through the first stanza on McLean's marker, assisted by rookie Kelsey Lindskog. The period ended 1-0.
McLean blinked the light again early in the second frame assisted by Lindskog and veteran Brayell Hanson. The Wildcats narrowed the gap to 2-1 mid-way through the period.
A second Wildcats marker with seven minutes gone in the final period tied the contest 2-2, setting up a three-goal Prairie Fire flurry that began with captain Darci Kirkwood scoring with just 2:19 left to put the Prairie Fire ahead 3-2. Assists went to Brooklyn Kallusky and Hanson.
McLean got her hat trick when she scored with just 59 seconds left assisted by Teigen Kuntz.
Melissa Mish rounded out the 5-2 score when she split the pipes with 43 seconds left assisted by Breanna Olafson and Shennia Leggott.
The Prairie Fire was called on nine of 16 minors.
In the contest against the Gold Wings, Weyburn opened the scoring with what would prove to be their only goal. Sarah Spence scored unassisted at the 14-minute mark but McLean replied for the Fire a minute later assisted by Mish and Danielle Petersen to end the period 1-1.
Three more markers in the second period rounded out the scoring for Melville. Mish scored unassisted early in the period. Kirkwood put Melville ahead 3-1 midway through the period assisted by Kallusky. Kallusky then fired the home team's last goal assisted by Kirkwood and Hanson with just over two minutes remaining.
The teams split 12 minors.
The Prairie Fire opens its regular season when it hosts Saskatoon Stars for two games Oct. 9-10.
